Kaduna State Government has unveiled a new campaign aimed at combating cervical cancer and adolescent malnutrition, with a focus on expanding access to HPV vaccines and nutritional education for young girls.
Launched at the Gusau Institute in Kaduna, the Girl Effect Oya Campaign is a partnership with UK-based organisation Girl Effect. It builds on Kaduna’s progress in its Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination programme, which has so far reached over 754,000 girls aged 9 to 14 since its inception in 2024.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Governor Dr Hadiza Balarabe—represented by Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Rabi Salisu—described the campaign as “a call to action, a call to move, and a call to protect.”
“This is not just about vaccines and nutrition,” she said. “It is about our collective responsibility to empower and safeguard the next generation of girls in Kaduna State.”
The campaign seeks to engage families, educators, religious leaders, and local communities to dispel health myths and promote preventative care. Dr Balarabe praised Kaduna’s health workers and highlighted the state’s role as a model in Northern Nigeria for integrating adolescent health into routine immunisation strategies.
“No child should be lost to a disease we can prevent,” she stressed. “Every girl in Kaduna deserves to grow up strong, healthy, and disease-free.”
The launch was attended by health professionals, civil society organisations, and development partners.
